Pure Red Cell Aplasia

An 11-month-old Caucasian boy presents to the emergency department for severe fatigue. His symptoms progressively worsened to the point where he is unresponsive. On physical exam, the patient has a flat nasal bridge and triphalangeal thumbs. Laboratory testing is significant for an isolated macrocytic anemia, reticulocytopenia, and increased HbF. Genetic testing is pursued, which demonstrates a ribosomopathy.

Introduction

Clinical definition

isolated anemia and reticulocytopenia due to a pure red cell aplasia (PRCA)

Etiology

may be due to congenital (e.g., Diamond-Blackfan anemia) or acquired (e.g., transient erythroblastopenia, paraneoplastic syndromes, and parvovirus B19 infection) causes

(M1.HE.4754)
A 35-year-old male presents to his primary care physician complaining of a one-month history of progressively worsening fatigue. He sought medical attention because this has affected his ability to complete his work as a graduate student. As a child, he was hospitalized for hemolytic uremic syndrome. His past medical history is also notable for diabetes mellitus and obesity. He takes metformin and glyburide. He does not smoke and drinks alcohol occasionally. His family history is notable for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in his paternal uncle and stroke in his father. His temperature is 99.9°F (37.7°C), blood pressure is 100/70 mmHg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 18/min. Physical examination reveals diffuse pallor. Hematologic labs are shown below: